News in-brief

Man loses toes due to bed tax

A man lost his toes from frostbite while living in a tent after the Tories’ bedroom tax saw him evicted from his home.

Mitchell Keenan shared a tent with his sick father for eight months. They were evicted from the council home they had lived in for 30 years in Skelmersdale, Lancashire.

Protest halts an eviction

Supporters rallied outside the Coventry house of housing association tenant Archie Millar on Monday of this week to stop bailiffs evicting him.

Supporters rallied outside the Coventry house of housing association tenant Archie Millar on Monday of this week to stop bailiffs evicting him.

The bedroom tax had pushed him into arrears. Landlords called off the eviction, allowing him an extra month to pay arrears.

Back door for developers

Guests at private developers’ bash the Property Awards in a plush Park Lane hotel, central London, had to enter through the back doors on Tuesday night of last week.

Around 200 protesters blocked off the main entrance.

Fat cats’ fuel poverty bank

Energy firm Npower and food bank charity the Trussell Trust have opened Britain’s first “fuel bank” offering vouchers for people who can’t afford gas and electricity.

Campaigners accused Npower of looking to improve its image while its profiteering pushes more people into fuel poverty.

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